Folding top for a passenger vehicle

ABSTRACT

A frame assembly of a folding top for a vehicle includes a front roof bow, a front support having a rear control arm, and a middle support having a front control arm. The rear end of the front support and the front end of the middle support face one another. The front roof bow and the front end of the front support are connected together through a first bolt connection. The rear end of the front support and the rear control arm are connected together through a second bolt connection. The front control arm and the front end of the middle support are connected together through a third bolt connection. The rear control arm and the front control arm are connected together at a joint such that the front support and the middle support are connected together.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims foreign priority benefits under 35 U.S.C.§119(a)-(d) to DE 10 2009 009 722.8, filed Feb. 19, 2009, which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a convertible top frame assembly of afolding top for a vehicle.

2. Background Art

U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,819 describes a convertible top frame assemblyhaving support elements lying one after the other on each longitudinalside of the assembly. Each support element includes a mounting railconfigured to hold a seal for a door window. The ends of adjacentsupport elements face one another. These ends have control arm sectionswhich are coupled together via a joint and are bolted in position on thecorresponding support elements.

EP 0 276 388 B1 describes a convertible top frame assembly having a setof mounting rails on each longitudinal side of the assembly. Themounting rails are configured to hold seals. The mounting rails arefastened to joint parts by rivets. The seals are fixed to the mountingrails in a form-fit manner by tabs and cooperate with side windowsthrough hose sections.

EP 0 658 455 B1 (corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 5,527,583) describes aconvertible top frame assembly having support structures on eachlongitudinal side of the assembly to hold seals on the body of avehicle. The seals run along the longitudinal sides of the roof to sealdoor windows of the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is a convertible top frame assemblyof a folding top for a vehicle in which the assembly is producible withreasonable expense to serve its intended purpose and minimizes theweight of the folding top while providing a relatively high amount ofstrength.

In carrying out the above object and other objects, the presentinvention provides a frame assembly of a folding top for a vehicle. Theframe assembly includes a front roof bow, a front support element havinga rear control arm section, and a middle support element having a frontcontrol arm section. The rear end of the front support element and thefront end of the middle support element face one another. The front roofbow and the front end of the front support element are connectedtogether through a first bolt connection. The rear end of the frontsupport element and the rear control arm section are connected togetherthrough a second bolt connection. The front control arm section and thefront end of the middle support element are connected together through athird bolt connection. The rear control arm section and the frontcontrol arm are connected together at a joint such that the front andmiddle support elements are connected together.

A convertible top frame assembly, or at least the front roof bow and thefront support elements thereof, in accordance with embodiments of thepresent invention provides an exemplary assembly, i.e., an assembly madeof multiple pieces but is nevertheless rigid and highly effective incombination with a folding top. The front roof bow, the supportelements, and the control arm sections are components that are simple todesign and realize. The front roof bow and the front support elementsemploy contact sections and spaced bolts to form an exemplary method ofconnection. The same also goes for the connection between the supportelements with corresponding control arm sections. In one embodiment, thefront roof bow and the support elements contribute to keeping down theweight by being formed of a light metal alloy. Each support element isin the form of a mounting rail having a multi-functional design. To thisend, the mounting rail has a C-shaped receptacle section for receiving atab section of a control arm section, e.g., in a form-fit manner. Themounting rail has another receptacle section for holding a seal. The wayin which the front roof bow, the support elements, and the control armsections are assembled together by an assembling device sets standardsin convertible top technology through the structural design of theassembling device.

The above features, and other features and advantages of the presentinvention are readily apparent from the following detailed descriptionsthereof when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a vehicle having a folding topin accordance with an embodiment of the present invention in which thefolding top is in its closed position;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the convertible top frame assembly ofthe folding top while the folding top is in its closed position;

FIG. 3 illustrates (i) an exploded view of the front area of a firstlongitudinal side of the convertible top frame assembly including afront support element and its rear control arm section and (ii) aschematic view of an assembling device for assembling the front area ofthe folding top;

FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded view of the middle area of the firstlongitudinal side of the convertible top frame assembly including amiddle support element and its front and rear control arm sections; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a section of the convertible top frame assembly alongthe line V-V of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Referring now to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a passenger vehicle 1having a folding top 7 in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention is shown. Vehicle 1 includes a vehicle body 2 having a basebody 5 that is supported by two sets of wheels 3 and 4. Base body 5holds side doors 8 and a windshield frame 9. Windshield frame 9 has anupper cross member 10.

Folding top 7 is a roof 6 movable between a closed position Schst and anopened position. In the closed position, folding top 7 extends over andcovers a passenger compartment Fg of vehicle body 2. In the openedposition, folding top 7 is rearwardly lowered into the trunk or the likeof vehicle body 2 and stored therein. Folding top 7 is shown in FIG. 1in its closed position.

Folding top 7 includes a convertible top frame assembly 14. Frameassembly 14 is pivotably attached to vehicle body 2 in a rear area 15 offolding top 7 (see FIG. 2) to move folding top 7 between the closed andopened positions. Folding top 7 further includes a cover 13 such as atop cloth. Cover 13 is stretched over frame assembly 14.

Folding top 7 further includes a front roof bow 12 in a front area offolding top 7. Front roof bow 12 extends transversely to vehiclelongitudinal direction A-A between the longitudinal sides of vehiclebody 2. Cover 13 is also stretched over front roof bow 12. Front roofbow 12 borders windshield frame 9 when folding top 7 is in the closedposition. In this position, front roof bow 12 connects with cross member10.

Referring now to FIG. 2, with continual reference to FIG. 1, a side viewof convertible top frame assembly 14 is shown. FIG. 2 illustrates frameassembly 14 while folding top 7 is in the closed position. Frameassembly 14 includes a first set of support elements 16 (namely, a frontsupport element 24, a middle support element 25, and a rear supportelement 26). First support elements 16 lie on a first longitudinal sideDlsI of frame assembly 14. In the closed position of folding top 7,first support elements 16 lie one after the other along the firstlongitudinal side DlsI. Similarly, frame assembly 14 includes a secondset of support elements 17 (namely, a front support element, a middlesupport element, and a rear support element which are not labeled).Second support elements 17 lie on a second longitudinal side DlsII offrame assembly 14. In the closed position of folding top 7, secondsupport elements 17 lie one after the other along the secondlongitudinal side DlsII. First and second longitudinal sides DlsI andDlsII of frame assembly 14 respectively correspond to the longitudinalsides of vehicle body 2.

First support elements 16 are laterally spaced apart from correspondingones of second support elements 17 on the respective longitudinal sidesDlsI, DlsII. For instance, front support element 24 of first supportelements 16 and the front support element of second support elements 17are laterally spaced apart from one another on the respectivelongitudinal sides DlsI, DlsII. Likewise, middle support element 25 offirst support elements 16 and the middle support element of secondsupport elements 17 are laterally spaced apart from one another on therespective longitudinal sides DlsI, DlsII. Support elements 16, 17 runat waist height in an arch 23 approximately from cross member 10 ofwindshield frame 9 to rear area 15 of folding top 7.

Each corresponding pair of support elements 16, 17 have the sameconfiguration. For instance, front support element 24 of first supportelements 16 and the front support element of second support elements 17have the same configuration. Likewise, middle support element 25 offirst support elements 16 and the middle support element of secondsupport elements 17 have the same configuration. Similarly, both rearsupport elements have the same configuration.

Frame assembly 14 further includes a plurality of top bows 18, 19, 20,and 21. Top bows 18, 19, 20, and 21 extend transversely to vehiclelongitudinal direction A-A between first support elements 16 and secondsupport elements 17. A first end of each top bow 18, 19, 20, and 21 isconnected to corresponding ones of first support elements 16. Likewise,a second end of each top bow 18, 19, 20, and 21 is connected tocorresponding ones of second support elements 17.

As indicated above, each first support element 16 and each correspondingsecond support element 17 have the same configuration. As such, onlyfirst support elements 16 of longitudinal side DlsI will be described infurther detail.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, with continual reference to FIG. 2,exploded views of the front area and the middle area of firstlongitudinal side DlsI of convertible top frame assembly 14 are shown.In particular, FIG. 3 illustrates the front area of the firstlongitudinal side DlsI of frame assembly 14 and FIG. 4 illustrates themiddle area of the first longitudinal side DlsI of frame assembly 14.

Front support element 24 includes a front end (not labeled) and a rearend 28. The front end of front support element 24 connects with a firstlongitudinal side of front roof bow 12 via a bolt connection 27. Rearend 28 of front support element 24 includes a rear control arm section30. Rear control arm section 30 is connected to rear end 28 of frontsupport element 24 through a bolt connection 36.

Middle support element 25 includes a front end 29 and a rear end (notlabeled). Front end 29 of middle support element 25 includes a frontcontrol arm section 31. Front control arm section 31 is connected tofront end 29 of middle support element 25 through a bolt connection 37.

Rear end 28 of front support element 24 and front end 29 of middlesupport element 25 face one another. Rear control arm section 30 offront support element 24 and front control arm section 31 of middlesupport element 25 are coupled together and thereby couple front andmiddle support elements 24 and 25 together. Control arm sections 30 and31 are coupled together through a joint 32. Joint 32 includes bearingholes 33 and 34. Bearing hole 33 is in rear control arm section 30 offront support element 24. Bearing hole 34 is in front control armsection 31 of middle support element 25. A joint bolt 35 extends throughbearing holes 33, 34 of joint 32 to couple together control arm sections30, 31 and thereby couple together front and middle support elements 24,25.

Front support element 24, middle support element 25, and rear supportelement 26 are each designed as a type of mounting rail. Each mountingrail generally has the same configuration. As such, only first mountingrail 38 of front support element 24 will be described in further detail.

Front roof bow 12 is a flat component in the form of a flat top bow thatextends in the vehicle's longitudinal direction A-A over part of thelength of folding top 7. Front roof bow 12 and at least first mountingrail 38 (i.e., first support element 24) contribute to keeping theweight down by being formed from a light metal alloy (Al or Mg). Inorder to have the proper strength, rear control arm section 30 of frontsupport element 24 and front control arm section 31 of middle supportelement 25 are formed from a ferrous metal alloy.

First mounting rail 38 of front support element 24 has a first contactsection 39. As indicated above, the front end of front support element24 connects with a first longitudinal side of front roof bow 12 via boltconnection 27. More particularly, first contact section 39 of firstmounting rail 38 connects to a second contact section 40 of front roofbow 12 via bolt connection 27. The area of contact sections 39 and 40 iswhere bolt connection 27 is used. Bolt connection 27 includes two bolts41 and 42 arranged at a distance from one another in the vehicle'slongitudinal direction A-A.

Both of bolt connection 36 between rear control arm section 30 of frontsupport element 24 (i.e., first mounting rail 38) and rear end 28 offront support element 24 and bolt connection 37 between front controlarm section 31 of middle support element 25 (i.e., a second mountingrail 45) and front end 29 of middle support element 25 are comparable tobolt connection 27. For instance, bolt connection 36 includes two bolts43 and 44 arranged at a distance from one another in the vehicle'slongitudinal direction A-A. Likewise, bolt connection 37 includes twobolts 46 and 47 arranged at a distance from one another in the vehicle'slongitudinal direction A-A.

Rear control arm section 30 of front support element 24 (i.e., firstmounting rail 38) is a flat component with a rectangular upright crosssection. Rear control arm section 30 has a first upright tab section 48.First tab section 48 is placed against a corresponding second uprighttab section 49 of first mounting rail 38. Bolts 43 and 44 of boltconnection 36 penetrate tab sections 48 and 49.

Referring now to FIG. 5, with continual reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4,a section of convertible top frame assembly 14 along the line V-V ofFIG. 2 is shown. Second tab section 49 of first mounting rail 38 is partof an approximately C-shaped first receptacle section 50 facing thepassenger compartment Fg. First tab section 48 of rear control armsection 30 inserts into first receptacle section 50 of second tabsection 49 such that first tab section 48 is held in a form-fit mannerin first receptacle section 50.

On an area 51 facing the vehicle outside Fa, first mounting rail 38 hasa second receptacle section 52 for a seal 53. Second receptacle section52 has, on opposite sides 54 and 55, tabs 56 and 57. Tabs 56, 57respectively engage into corresponding U-shaped recesses 58 and 59 ofseal 53 and, in the process, fix seal 53 in place. An area of firstmounting rail 38 facing the vehicle bottom Fu has a V-shaped recess 60therein. V-shaped recess 60 has barbs 61 and 62 on opposite sections. Awidened area 63 of a seal section 64 sits in recess 60 and reachesbehind barbs 61 and 62 so as to fix seal section 64.

First mounting rail 38 with first receptacle section 50 and secondreceptacle section 52 is made in a single piece, which is done byextrusion molding or a comparable manufacturing process.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a schematic view of an assembling device 65 forassembling together the parts of folding top 7 such as front roof bow12, front support element 24, and rear control arm section 30 of frontsupport element 24 is shown. Assembling device 65 includes a first stopelement 66 and a second stop element 67 for front support element 24.Assembling device 65 further includes a fixing element 68 for rearcontrol arm section 30. First stop element 66 has an angular crosssection with legs 69 and 70 against which front support element 24, andpossibly front roof bow 12, come to rest. Fixing element 68 has a fixingpin 71 that orients bearing hole 33 of joint 32 of rear control armsection 30.

While embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated anddescribed, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate anddescribe all possible forms of the present invention. Rather, the wordsused in the specification are words of description rather thanlimitation, and it is understood that various changes may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

1. A frame assembly of a folding top for a vehicle, the frame assemblycomprising: a front roof bow; a front support having a front end and arear end; a middle support having a front end; wherein the rear end ofthe front support and the front end of the middle support face oneanother; a rear control arm; a front control arm; wherein the front roofbow and the front end of the front support are connected togetherthrough a first bolt connection; wherein the rear end of the frontsupport and the rear control arm are connected together through a secondbolt connection; wherein the front control arm and the front end of themiddle support are connected together through a third bolt connection;wherein the rear control arm and the front control arm are connectedtogether at a joint such that the front support and the middle supportare connected together.
 2. The frame assembly of claim 1 wherein: thefront support is a front mounting rail and the middle support is amiddle mounting rail.
 3. The frame assembly of claim 2 wherein: thefirst bolt connection includes two bolts which are spaced apartlongitudinally along the front end of the front support and the frontroof bow.
 4. The frame assembly of claim 3 wherein: the front end of thefront support has a first contact section; wherein the front roof bowhas a second contact section; wherein the first contact section of thefront end of the front support and the second contact section of thefront roof bow lie against one another with the two bolts of the firstbolt connection penetrating through the first and second contactsections.
 5. The frame assembly claim 2 wherein: the second boltconnection includes two bolts which are spaced apart longitudinallyalong the rear end of the front support and the rear control arm.
 6. Theframe assembly of claim 5 wherein: the rear control arm has a firstupright tab section; wherein the rear end of the front support has asecond upright tab section; wherein the first tab section of the rearcontrol arm and the second tab section of the rear end of the frontsupport lie against one another with the two bolts of the second boltconnection penetrating both the first and second tab sections.
 7. Theframe assembly of claim 6 wherein: the front support further includes aC-shaped receptacle configured to face a passenger compartment of avehicle; wherein the first tab section of the rear control arm isinserted into the C-shaped receptacle.
 8. The frame assembly of claim 7wherein: the front support further includes a second receptacleconfigured to face the outside of a vehicle; the frame assembly furthercomprising a seal; wherein the second receptacle of the front supportholds the seal.
 9. The frame assembly of claim 8 wherein: the secondreceptacle has first and second tabs that engage into correspondingrecesses of the seal to fix the seal to the second receptacle.
 10. Theframe assembly of claim 9 wherein: the second receptacle has a V-shapedrecess configured to face a bottom of a vehicle, the V-shaped recesshaving a pair of barbs receive a corresponding widened area of a sectionof the seal that reaches behind the barbs.
 11. The frame assembly ofclaim 8 wherein: the front support with the C-shaped receptacle and thesecond receptacle is a single piece.
 12. The frame assembly of claim 11wherein: the front support is produced by extrusion molding.
 13. Theframe assembly of claim 1 wherein: the front roof bow and the frontsupport each include a light metal alloy; wherein the rear control armincludes a steel alloy.
 14. An assembly device for assembling a frontroof bow, a front support having a front end and a rear end, and a rearcontrol arm of a frame assembly of a folding top for a vehicle, whereinthe front roof bow and the front end of the front support areconnectable together through a first bolt connection and the rear end ofthe front support and the rear control arm are connectable togetherthrough a second bolt connection, the assembly device comprising: afirst stop element for the front roof bow and the front end of the frontsupport; a second stop element for the rear end of the front support;and a fixing element for the rear control arm; wherein the first stopelement has an angular cross section with legs against which the frontroof bow and the front end of the front support adjoin; wherein thefixing element has a fixing pin that orients a bearing hole of joint ofthe rear control arm.
 15. A folding top for a vehicle, the folding topcomprising: a cover; a front roof bow extending in a transversedirection; a frame assembly having first and second longitudinal sides;wherein the cover is stretched over the front roof bow and the frameassembly; wherein the frame assembly includes first front and middlesupports lying on the first longitudinal side and second front andmiddle supports lying on the second longitudinal side; wherein rearsections of the first and second longitudinal sides of the frameassembly are pivotably attachable to a vehicle body to move the frameassembly between a closed position in which frame assembly is extendedwith the first front and middle supports lying one after the other alongthe first longitudinal side and the second front and middle supportslying one after the other along the second longitudinal side and anopened position in which the frame assembly is retracted; wherein afront end of the first front support is connected to a firstlongitudinal side of the front roof bow through a first bolt connection;wherein a rear end of the first front support and a rear control arm areconnected together through a second bolt connection; wherein a front endof the first middle support and a front control arm are connectedtogether through a third bolt connection; wherein the rear and frontcontrol arms are connected together at a first joint such that the firstfront and middle supports are connected together.
 16. The folding top ofclaim 15 wherein: the second bolt connection includes two bolts whichare spaced apart longitudinally along the rear end of the first frontsupport and the rear control arm.
 17. The folding top of claim 16wherein: the rear control arm has a first upright tab section; whereinthe rear end of the first front support has a second upright tabsection; wherein the first and second tab sections lie against oneanother with the two bolts of the second bolt connection penetratingboth of the first and second tab sections.
 18. The folding top of claim17 wherein: the first front support further includes a C-shapedreceptacle configured to face a passenger compartment of the vehiclebody; wherein the first tab section of the rear control arm is insertedinto the C-shaped receptacle.
 19. The folding top of claim 18 furthercomprising: a seal; wherein the first front support further includes asecond receptacle configured to face the outside of the vehicle body;wherein the second receptacle of the first front support has first andsecond tabs that engage into corresponding recesses of the seal to fixthe seal to the second receptacle.
 20. The folding top of claim 19wherein: the second receptacle has a V-shaped recess configured to facea bottom of the vehicle body, the V-shaped recess having a pair of barbsreceive a corresponding widened area of a section of the seal thatreaches behind the barbs.